Oregon House GOP ousts Parrish from leadership

SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Oregon House Republicans voted Monday evening to oust Rep. Julie Parrish, one of the Legislature's most vocal and visible Republicans, from its leadership team.

Parrish, a second-term lawmaker from West Linn, was replaced as the No. 2 Republican by Rep. John Davis of Wilsonville. She declined to give a reason for her colleagues' decision, saying caucus meetings are private.

"I wish our new leadership well," Parrish said. "I'm going to go continue to focus on my race and the things that I'm working on."

Rep. Sherrie Sprenger of Scio was elected whip, the No. 3 position, replacing Rep. Wally Hicks, who is not seeking re-election.

Parrish was first elected in 2010 and quickly showed she didn't have much patience for some of the traditions of the Capitol, where freshmen generally keep quiet while they learn the ropes.

She has a knack for drawing media attention and for getting under Democrats' skin.

Parrish ruffled feathers in some conservative circles with her support of a measure legalizing gay marriage, though Rep. Vicki Berger, R-Salem, said that issue never came up in the GOP deliberations.

"I think this is just an attempt to get the right team working on the campaigns," said Berger, who also supported the marriage measure.

Republicans voted to keep Rep. Mike McLane of Powell Butte as the Republican leader, the top GOP position in the House.

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